Letters-patent to be therefor. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Pre Issued States be, and he is hereby authorized and empo patent in the usual form, thereby granting to the and to their heirs, the said tract of land to be he heirs in severalty, in lots designated, numbered said. Saving of pri- SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That nothing vate contracts taken or considered in any manner to affect the made with the herein named against any person or persons, for or tracts heretofore made by them, but that the sa and remain in the same state as if this act had not (a) See Nos. 9, 40. grantees. July 16, 1798. No. 14.-AN ACT authorizing the grant and conveyance of Elie Williams. Sec'y Treasury Be it enacted, &c., That the Secretary of the Treas authorized to sell is authorized to contract with Elie Williams, for a certain lot of lot of ground, twenty perches in length, and sixtee ground. situate in the town of Cincinnati, in the territo Ohio, it being the same lot on which certain build the said Elie Williams and Robert Elliot, deceas for supplying the western army with provisions. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That on payme of the United States of such sum or sums of mone agreed upon between the said Elie Williams and Treasury, as the price of the above mentioned lot, United States be, and he is hereby authorized to g same, to the said Elie Williams, his heirs or assign March 2, 1799. Repeal. No. 15.-AN ACT to amend the act intituled "An act regu appropriated for military services, and for the Society of propagating the Gospel among the Heathen." SECTION 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the fourth se tuled "An act regulating the grants of land appr services, and for the Society of the United Breth the Gospel among the Heathen," be, and the same Lands unlo- SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all the lar cated Jan. 1, 1802, first section of the above-mentioned act, which sh to be subject to on the first day of January, in the year one thou and two, shall be released from the said reservatio free disposition of the United States, in like man cant territory of the United States. And that al for lands on account of military services, which day aforesaid, be registered and located, shall be f (a) See Nos. 12, 17, 18, 27, 32, 34, 38, 42, 49, 50, 60, 71, 128, 13 sale. Limitation. March 2, 1799. Contractors ments. No.16.-AN ACT to authorize the sale of certain lands bety Miami rivers in the territory of the United States northw giving a pre-emption to certain purchasers and settlers. SECTION 1. Be it enacted, &c., That any person o with John C. the first day of April, in the year one thousand Symmes to have a right of preninety-seven, had made any contract or contrac emption, on mak. John Cleves Symmes, for the purchase of lands ing certain pay- and Little Miami rivers, which are not compreh dated the thirtieth day of September, one thou and ninety-four, shall be entitled to a preference, United States, all the lands so contracted for, at lars an acre, to be paid to the Treasurer of the Unit one-third part of the purchase money, on or be September next; one other third part in one year f of September; and the remaining third part in tw first day of September; which two last payments s manner pointed out and directed by the act, intit viding for the sale of the lands of the United States in the territory northwest of the river Ohio, and above the mouth of Kentucky River." And that upon each payment, the same evidences of purchase and title shall be given to the purchasers, respectively, as to purchasers under the said recited act. (a) sers. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That each and every person claiming Notice to be the benefit of this act, shall, on or before the first day of September next, given by purcha give notice, in writing, to the Secretary of the Treasury, or to the surveyor-general, that they claim the right of pre-emption, by this act offered, and do assent to the terms of sale established by this act. And Right of preif any person shall neglect to give the said notice, or shall fail in mak-emption may be lost, &c. ing the first payment, as before directed, all right of pre-emption shall cease, and become void; and the lands shall be surveyed and sold agreeably to the directions of the before-recited act. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the surveyor-general shall, as soon as may be, after the receipt of the notice aforesaid, lay off and survey the said lands, agreeably to the directions of the said recited act, unless the said lands have been heretofore surveyed and laid off by the said contractors or settlers; in which case, the surveyor-general shall survey the outlines of such tract or tracts, so as to ascertain the contents, and shall cause the same to be recorded and deposited, as in and by the said recited act is directed for the plats and surveys made under that act. The lands to bo surveyed. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That it may be lawful for the Secre- Purchasers tary of the Treasury to credit the said purchasers with such reasonable may be credited with the expense sum or sums of money as have been expended in surveying the said of surveying. land; provided the same does not exceed the sums allowed by the United States to their own surveyors for the like services. received SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the evidences of the public Evidences of debt of the United States shall be receivable in payment for the said public debt may lands, agreeably to the directions of an act, intituled "An act to authorize the receipt of evidences of the public debt in payment for the lands of the United States.” (b) (a) See No. 11. (b) See Nos. 4, 6, 25, 30, 31, 32, 36, 133, 170, 181. payment. No. 17.—AN ACT giving further time to the holders of military warrants, to regis- Feb. 11, 1800. ter, and locate the same. Vol. 2, p. 7. Time extended Be it enacted, fc., That the Secretary of the Treasury shall, for the space of fourteen days after the expiration of the nine months hereto- for registering fore allowed for that purpose,by the act, intituled "An act regulating warrants. the grants of land, appropriated for military services, and for the Society of the United Brethren for propagating the Gospel among the Heathen," register warrants for military services in the form and man ner as is prescribed by the said recited act; and the priority of location Priority of loof said warrants, and the warrants registered under the said recited act cation to be deshall be determined by lot, immediately after the expiration of the said termined by lot. fourteen days, and a day for the location shall be fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury, in a public notice given in one of the gazettes of the city of Philadelphia. (a) (4) See Nos. 12, 15, 18, 27, 32, 34, 38, 42, 49, 50, 60, 71, 128, 130, 131, 135, 139. No. 18.-AN ACT in addition to an act intituled "An act regulating the grants of land appropriated for military services, and for the Society of the United Brethren for propagating the Gospel among the Heathen." March 1, 1800. SECTION 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the respective points of intersec- Points of intertion of the lines actually run, as the boundaries of the several town section of the lines actually run ships surveyed by virtue of the act intituled "An act regulating the are to be consid grants of land appropriated for military services and for the Society ered as the corof the United Brethren for propagating the Gospel among the Hea- ners then," accordingly as the said lines have been marked and ascertained ships. at the time when the same were run, notwithstanding the same are not in conformity to the act aforesaid, or shall not appear to correspond of town tain four thou sand acres. with the plat of the survey which has been rett general, shall be considered, and they are herel Boundaries of corners of the said townships: That in regard t quarter town as by the plat and survey returned by the sur ships, where they to contain four thousand acres in each quarter are stated to con- each of the boundary lines of such township, wh tance from those two corners of the same townsh same boundary line, shall be considered and th to be corners of the respective quarters of such to boundary lines of the said quarter townships sha from each of the last-mentioned corners of qu Boundaries of corner of quarter townships on the opposite bon quarter town- township; and that in regard to every such towi ships, where they turn is stated to contain in any of the quarters th are stated to con- the quantity of four thousand acres, the corners n than four thou- lines of such township to designate the quarters t ered and they are hereby declared to be the corne Method of run. ships thereof, although the same may be found at 1 ning lines. the respective corners of such townships: And s divided by running lines through the same from t ter townships actually marked, whether the inter shall be parallel to the exterior lines of the said that each of the said quarter townships thus bo proceeding to be had under the above-mentioned ered as containing the exact quantity expressed i thereof returned by the surveyor-general. (a) tain more or less sand acres. Locations may the holders of SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be made on the prietors or holders of warrants for military service general tract by shall be registered at the Treasury in pursuance o warrants for mil- act regulating the grants of land appropriated for itary services. for the Society of the United Brethren, for propaga the Heathen," during the time, in the manner, rights of priority, which may be acquired in pur locate the quantities of land mentioned in the wa tively registered, as aforesaid, on any quarter to Certain frac- part of a quarter township, in the general tract me tional quarter in said act: Provided always, That the fractional q townships to be the river Sciota, and those upon the river Musi taken for four thousand acres. grant made to Ebenezer Zane, or the towns Sal Shoenbrun, or the Indian boundary line, shall in and taken in full satisfaction for four thousand a When locations SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That whenev are made on made on any quarter township, which, according quarter town- and plat thereof, returned by the surveyor-genera contain less than less than the quantity of four thousand acres, exc four thousand tions provided for in the preceding section, it sh acres, the Secre- Secretary of the Treasury to issue, or cause to L tary of Treasury expressing the number of acres remaining unsatis tificates to be is warrants for the quantity of four thousand acres, sued for the defi- the act before recited, which certificates shall have ciency. ships stated to shall cause cer What is to be are made on quarter town sand acres. effect, and be liable to be barred in like manner as military services, but no certificate shall be gra allowed for less than fifty acres, nor for the navig within the limits of any quarter township or fra ship. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That whenev done when they made on any quarter township, which, according and plat thereof, returned by the surveyor-generships stated to the quantity of four thousand acres, no patent sha contain more ance thereof, until the person making such loca than four thou- the Treasury, warrants for military services or cer tue of the preceding section, equal to the excess acres, contained in such quarter township, or shall Land at two of the United States two dollars per acre, in the dollars per acre. per cent. funded debt of the United States, or me Reservations the excess above four thousand acres as aforesaid. for satisfying SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That after the warrants granted shall have been determined, and after the propriet for their services. rants for military services shall have designated t to individuals spectively elected; it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to designate by lot, in the presence of the Secretary of War, fifty quarter townships, of the lands remaining unlocated, which quarter townships, together with the fractional parts of townships remaining unlocated, shall be reserved for satisfying warrants granted to individuals for their military services, in the manner hereafter provided. hundred acres. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the land in each of the quarter Reservations townships designated as aforesaid, and in such of the fractional parts to be divided inof quarter townships, as may then remain unlocated, shall be divided by to lots of one the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the respective plats thereof, as returned by the surveyor-general, into as many lots, of one hundred acres each, as shall be equal, as nearly as may be, to the quantity such quarter Manner in township or fraction is stated to contain; each of which lots shall be which they shall included, where practicable, between parallel lines, one hundred and be surveyed. sixty perches in length, and one hundred perches in width, and shall be designated by progressive numbers upon the plat, or survey of every such quarter township and fraction respectively. (a) may make locations before Jan. 1st, SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That from and after the sixteenth Holders of such day of March next, it shall be lawful for the holder of any warrant warrants granted for military services, to locate, at any time before the first day on those lots, and of January, one thousand eight hundred and two, the number of hun- receive patents dred acres expressed in such warrant, on any lot or lots, from time to to their own use time, remaining unlocated within the tracts reserved as aforesaid, and only, after 16th apon surrendering such warrant to the Treasury, the holder thereof shall March, 1800, and be entitled to receive a patent in the manner, and upon the conditions 1802. heretofore prescribed by law; which patent shall in every case express the range, township, quarter township or fraction, and number of the lot located as aforesaid. But no location shall be allowed, nor shall any patent be issued for any lot or lots of one hundred acres, except in the name of the person originally entitled to such warrant, or the heir or Upon heirs of the person so entitled; nor shall any land, so located and der of warrant patented, to a person originally entitled to such warrant, be considered as in trust for any purchaser, or be subject to any contract made before the date of such patent, and the title to lands acquired, in consequence of patents issued as aforesaid, shall and may be alienated in pursuance of the laws, which have been, or shall be passed in the territory of the United States northwest of the river Ohio, for regulating the transfer of real property, and not otherwise. shall patent. surren receive SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That in all cases after the sixteenth Where locaof March next, where more than one application is made for the same tions are made tract, at the same time, under this act, or under the act to which this is on the same in addition, the Secretary of the Treasury shall determine the priority be determined by tract, priority to of location by lot. lot. the reservations SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Sec- Public notice retary of the Treasury to advertise the tracts which may be reserved for to be given of location, in lots of one hundred acres, in one newspaper in each of the by the Secretary States, and in the territory aforesaid, for and during the term of three of the Treasury. mouths. to be conclusive SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the actual plat and survey, The plat rereturned by the surveyor-general, of quarter townships and fractional turned by the parts of quarter townships, contained in the tract mentioned and de- surveyor-general scribed in the act to which this is a supplement, shall be considered as as to quantity. final and conclusive, so far as relates to the quantity of land supposed to be contained in the quarter townships, and fractions, so that no claim shall hereafter be set up against the United States, by any proprietor, or holder of warrants for military services, on account of any deficiency in the quantity of land contained in the quarter township or fractional part of a quarter township, which shall have been located by such proprietor or holder, nor shall any claim be hereafter set up by the United States, against such proprietor or holder, on account of any excess in the quantity of land contained therein. (c) April 28, 1800. The President may issue letters No. 19.-AN ACT to authorize the President of the United States to accept, for the United States, a cession of jurisdiction of the territory west of Pennsylvania, commonly called the Western Reserve of Connecticut. Be it enacted, &c., That the President of the United States be, and he patent releasing I hereby is authorized to execute and deliver letters-patent in the name the right of the and behalf of the United States, to the governor of the State of ConUnited States to necticut for the time being, for the use and benefit of the persons holdthe soil of the ing and claiming under the State of Connecticut, their heirs and assigns Western Re- for ever, whereby all the right, title, interest and estate of the United serve. ed States certain States, to the soil of that tract of land lying west of the west line of Pennsylvania, as claimed by the State of Pennsylvania, and as the same has been actually settled, ascertained and run in conformity to an agreement between the said State of Pennsylvania and the State of Virginia, and extending from said line westward one hundred and twenty statute miles in length, and in breadth throughout the said limits in length from the completion of the forty-first degree of north latitude, until it comes to forty-two degrees and two minutes north latitude, including all that territory commonly called the Western Reserve of Connecticut, and which was excepted by said State of Connecticut out of the cession by the said State heretofore made to the United States, and accepted by a resolution of Congress of the fourteenth of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six, shall be released and conveyed as aforesaid to the said governor of Connecticut, and his successors in said office, for ever, for the purpose of quieting the grantees and purchasers under said State of Connecticut, and confirming their titles to the soil of the said tract of land. Provided Con- Provided, however, That such letters-patent shall not be executed and necticut shall delivered, unless the State of Connecticut shall, within eight months cede to the Unit from passing this act, by a legislative act, renounce for ever, for the use western lands; and benefit of the United States, and of the several individual States who may be therein concerned respectively, and of all those deriving claims or titles from them or any of them, all territorial and jurisdictional claims whatever, under any grant, charter or charters whatever, to the soil and jurisdiction of any and all lands whatever lying westward, northwestward, and southwestward of those counties in the State of Connecticut, which are bounded westwardly by the eastern line of the State of New York, as ascertained by agreement between Connecticut and New York, in the year one thousand seven hundred and thirtythree, excepting only from such renunciation the claim of said State of Connecticut, and of those claiming from or under the said State, to the soil of said tract of land herein described under the name of the Western Reserve of Connecticut. and execute a And provided also, That the said State of Connecticut shall, within the deed relinquish said eight months from and after passing this act, by the agent or agents ing her jurisdic of said State duly authorized by the legislature thereof, execute and the Western Re- deliver to the acceptance of the President of the United States, a deed tional claim to serve. expressly releasing to the United States the jurisdictional claim of the said State of Connecticut, to the said tract of land herein described under the name of the Western Reserve of Connecticut, and shall deposit an exemplification of said act of renunciation, under the seal of the said State of Connecticut, together with said deed releasing said jurisdiction, in the office of the Department of State of the United States, which deed of cession when so deposited shall vest the jurisdiction of said territory in the United States: Provided, That neither this act, nor any thing contained therein, shall be construed so as in any manner to draw into question the conclusive settlement of the dispute between Pennsylvania and Connecticut, by the decree of the Federal court at Trenton, nor to impair the right of Pennsylvania or any other State, or of any person or persons claiming under that or any other State, in any existing dispute concerning the right, either of soil or of jurisdiction, with the State of Connecticut, or with any person or persons claiming under the State of Connecticut: And provided also, That nothing herein contained shall be construed in any manner to pledge the United States for the extinguishment of the Indian title to the said lands, or further than merely to pass the title of the United States thereto. No. 20.-AN ACT to divide the territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio, into two separate governments. [See "INDIANA," No. 193.] |